An area more than half the size of Switzerland, was established in 1973 on the eastern side of the Andes, extending from the puna ( 4100m asl), over mountain cloud forest to the Amazon lowlands ( 300 m asl).
Only in a small area along the Manu River can tourists visit the Manu National Park and observe wildlife in its natural way of living. ( Most of the National Park is strictly protected and only accessible with a special permit.) You spend the nights at lodge camps or in a lodge ( e.g. Matsiguenka Lodge).
Due to the longer boat travel to and inside the National Park we recommend to do a 6,7 or 8 day tour (by bus) or a min. 7 day- tour (in and out by plane from Puerto Maldonado, see the program). At the moment only charter flights are available from Boca Manu airstrip.
Our 7 day tour to Manu National Park Reserved Zone with flight costs 1,515 USD/ 1,280 USD by bus 7 days (all inclusive)
Facilities of the Lodges; they are close to the road or to the river, includes: double rooms with mosquito nets, private bathrooms and a dining room (only Maquisapayoj lodge has hot showers) In casa Matsiguenka you have share bathroom. In Maquisapayoj you can also stay at the Tapir lick, on a special, elevated platform with comfortable mattresses and mosquito nets and toilet just in front of the tapir lick, in dense primary forest. »
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FRECUENT ASKED QUESTIONS – MANU
1. DO I HAVE TO BE FIT FOR THE MANU TRIP?
On the Manu tour you spend some time travelling by bus and on the boat – depending on the tour (e.g. on the Manu National Park Tour you spend more time sitting in the boat) and we do walks that usually do not exceed 3 to 4 hours in one. You only need to bring a day pack on the walks. Night walks are optional.
Due to the humidity and heat some people may feel a bit weak but there is always a ‘siesta’ at midday and the possibility to stay at the lodge instead of participating in a walk.
A rainforest tour is not a comfortable tour, but if you bring appropriate gear (see packing list) you will have an incomparable experience.
2. HOW TO DECIDE BETWEEN OUR MANU NATIONAL PARK TOURS?
On the Manu National Park Program 8 days 7 nights which goes deep inside the isolated reserved zone is the most complete program because it covers all the ineteresting places of all the Manu area, like the Manu river, 2 oxbow lakes, tapir and macaw clay licks, giant river otters, monkies and possible jaguar.
On the Manu Biosphere Tour; you visit often 2 oxbow lakes from the 5 lakes wich exist there (to observe Giant Otters), the Mammal Salt Lick at Maquisapayoj and the Macaw Clay Lick at Blanquillo private Reserve, both situated 30 km (19 miles) south of Boca Manu. The Macaw Clay Lick is situated outside the National Park (Reserved Zone),on the area call the Manu Biosphere Zone thus you need less time for travelling on the boat.
On the Manu Maquisapayoj Tour 5 days 4 nights; you go directly to the low land of the Manu area and concentrate on the clay licks and on the 2 oxbow lakes like cocha blanco and cocha camungo lokking for otters and have more time for walking on the trails and the tour has one day (day 5 ) to choose which animals you are missing or would like to observe (again), which is useful especially in case of bad weather conditions.
On the Manu Cloud forestr with rafting 4 days 3 nights; This program concentrates more on the upper tropical forest of the Manu National Park. visits also a smal lake call Machuwasi and a parrot and small macaws clay lick where is possible to see the rarest Blue headed Macaw and chestnut fronted Macaws eating togheter with the blue headed and yellow crowned parrots. Rafting is optional and it depends very much on the river conditions.
On the Manu Cultural tour 3 days 2 nights; visits the same places as the Manu Cloud forest with rafting the difference is you return after the show of the parrots on day 3.
3. IS THERE MALARIA AND LEISMANIASIS IN MANU? WHICH VACCINATIONS DO I NEED?
Malaria: The Malaria risk in Manu is extremely low (less than 0.1 %). We recommend to bring insect repellent and protect yourself with long sleeves instead of taking heavy malaria prophylaxis (please check for the side effects of these medicaments!!) which are not very secure either. If you want you can bring a ´stand by´ medicine in case you get Malaria (which can be detected by blood analysis), but you can also get this medication here. In the south peruvian rainforest there is only the type of Malaria named ´Plasmodium vivax` which is completely curable.
Malaria: The Malaria risk in Manu is extremely low (less than 0.1 %). We recommend to bring insect repellent and protect yourself with long sleeves instead of taking heavy malaria prophylaxis (please check for the side effects of these medicaments!!) which are not very secure either. If you want you can bring a ´stand by´ medicine in case you get Malaria (which can be detected by blood analysis), but you can also get this medication here. In the south peruvian rainforest there is only the type of Malaria named ´Plasmodium vivax` which is completely curable.
Yellow Fever: It is recommended to have a Yellow Fever vaccination for Manu. If you plan to visit any jungle area or cloudforest like Machupicchu or Manu you better have the Yellow Fever vaccination because it is controlled at Limonal guard station.
Leishmaniasis: The risk to get Leishmaniasis is also very very low, the best form of protection is to wear long sleeves and long pants. Is very important to chek 4 weeks after the tour for any round wound, if you have a wound that does not cure with regular medication chek with your doctor. In Peru the treatment for Leishmaniasis is free and they use Glucantine.
Tetanus: You should have a Tetanus vaccination for the rainforest and for Peru in general.
As to rabies: We spend all nights under mosquito nets therefore the risk to be bitten by a bat is very low.
As to rabies: We spend all nights under mosquito nets therefore the risk to be bitten by a bat is very low.
Botfly: If you have a pain like somebody pricking in your body that can be a botfly; you can feel this 2 or 3 weeks after the tour. The human botfly occasionally uses humans as the host to its larvae. The larva, because of its spines, can pose an extremely painful sub-epidermal condition. To kill this larvae, one can attempt to seal the breathing hole of the larva with nail polish, vaseline or with adhesive tape and then, after a day, squeeze out the suffocated dead larva. In 25 years that I am working in Manu I knew of 2 clients had this botflies.
4. WHAT DO YOU NEED FOR THE BOOKING?
Please read the tour program before you book a tour, if you have any questions we will be happy to answer them.
We need your full name, address, age, profession, passport number and nationality to make a reservation. To secure your booking we require a deposit/ down payment of 250 US $ per person.(more details on terms and conditions please read carefully before booking)
The deposit can be made to our bank account in Cusco / Peru, or via Western Union. We then confirm reception of the deposit and your tour booking. The balance is due at our office in Cusco, latest 3 days before your tour start. You can pay in cash (Soles, US $ or Euros) or Mastercard 10 working days before your tour.
We recommend to check credit card conditions (limits for the ATMs) with your bank before coming to Peru.
5. WHAT SHOULD I KNOW ABOUT THE FLIGHTS FROM MANU TO CUSCO AND VICEVERSA?
The flights from and to Boca Manu are NO LONGER operated with small aircrafts. THE ONLY OPTION IS VIA PUERTO MALDONADO.
Please also consider that flights to/ from Puerto Maldonado are more likely (than flights like Cusco – Lima) subject to change due to bad weather conditions, especially during the rainy season November till April or when we have cold fronts from May to October. We make the flight reservations for you but have no control over the flights. In rare cases with persistent bad weather conditions we may have to return overland from Puerto Maldonado to Cusco. Therefore we strongly recommend to allow a spare day before flying back to Lima, especially if you have connection to an international flight. In case you do not use your flight No Show is charged (full flight price), in case you miss your flight the airline charges a 100 % penalty. We higly recomend to have a TRAVEL INSURANCE.
The luggage limit on the plane is 20 kg per person, there is a fee of 4 US $ per kilo for extra luggage. Also you have to pay a tax for Puerto Maldonado airport which is 6US $ per person (one way).
6. WHAT IS THE MAXIMUM GROUP SIZE?
On Manu tours the maximum group size is 10 people per guide. That means if there are more than 10 participants on a tour we take one more guide to divide the group into two while walking on the trails. This secures that everybody can hear what the guide says and the group is not too big to see animals etc.
7. WHAT ABOUT SLEEPING BAGS AND BINOCULARS?
You should bring a light sleeping bag to Manu for the observation platform at the mammal salt lick. In the months from may to october there can be cold fronts in the lowland forest, and temperatures may go down as far as 10 ° C, which feels colder due to the humidity in the rainforest. Binoculars are essential for a Manu tour: to spot and have a close view of the animals. Both sleeping bags and binoculars can be rented in Cusco. Just let us know.
If you have any further questions you are welcome to mail us!
